Pearl Jam Confirms Target Tie-Up
By Billboard Staff
Updated 11 Hour(s) 44 Minute(s) ago
No longer under contract to Sony Records, Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis confirms to Billboard that the bands next album is set for a fall release without a U.S. label. Instead the band will have a consortium of partners including Target as their "big box" retail partner.
The deal with Target came together according to Curtis because they allowed the band to have other partners such as an online retailer, a mobile partner, a gaming company and a network of indie retail stores. "Target was cool enough to realize that little independent record stores are not their competition."
As for the seemingly corporate tie-in with Target, Curtis says, "It's important to remember we just got out of this 18 year relationship with Sony, and I'm pretty sure they are a bigger corporation than Target."
Curtis also confirmed that internationally, the album will be released via Universal Music Group and it will also be available through the band's fan club. He also says the band will tour this fall to promote the release.